IFAF member recap: Belgium, Italy, Great Britain, Spain, Sweden, Austria, United States, Ireland, and Poland

A round up from IFAF member countries and what football events have been taking place. Included are Belgium, Italy, Great Britain, Spain, Sweden, Austria, United States, Ireland, and Poland.

Belgium

In front of a record crowd the West-Vlaanderen Tribes won their sixth consecutive Belgian Title by defeating the Brussel Black Angels 20-14 in Belgian Bowl XXIV.

Halfway through the first quarter Tribes took the lead on a 75 yard punt return for touchdown by Vitaly Goncharov, but Black Angels answered immediately on their next drive as running back Sebastien Trouillez followed his blockers on a 45 yard touchdown run. Both teams exchanged possessions but it was Tribes who went ahead on a 5 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Benedict Vermaut to Goncharov for a 14-7 halftime lead.

The third quarter remained scoreless, but after recovering a Vermaut-fumble on the Tribes’ 20 yard line, it didn’t take the Black Angels long to even the score on a 25 yard pass from quarterback Francis Njufom to wide receiver Thomas Bouron. Things looked bleak for the defending champion but they managed to regroup and score the go-ahead touchdown with 4 minutes left as BFL MVP RB Gregory George found the endzone with a third effort on a 3 yard run. The 2 point conversion failed keeping things interesting with a 20-14 score.

Black Angels got two more drives but was stifled twice by the Tribes-defense who saw defensive end Stijn Dossche win the award as game MVP. Tribes hung on for the win, ending their season undefeated for the fifth consecutive season, winning their 6th Belgian Title in a row (8th in club history) and seeing their streak of consecutive wins in official games reaching 50.

Italy

The Italian Football League Series A2 semifinals were held this past weekend on June 18-19.

The North Rome Barbarians defeated the Sarzana Red Jackets in overtime. And the Udine Dragons defeated the Bergamo Lions in a closer than expected game.

quarterfinals results are:
Barbari North Rome vs Guelfi Florence 21-14 OT
Daemons Martesana vs Red Jackets Lunigiana 35-24
Draghi Udine vs Titans Romagna 9-27
Lions Bergamo vs Sharks Palermo 37-3

ITALIAN FIRST DIVISION:
semifinals – June, 25th Warriors vs Hogs
semifinals – June, 26th Panthers vs Elephants
winning teams: ITALIAN SUPERBOWL in Parma on next July, 9th

ITALIAN SECOND DIVISION:
semifinals – June, 25th Daemons vs Titans
semifinals – June, 26th Lions vs Barbari
winning teams: ITALIAN BOWL in Turin on next July, 3rd

ITALIAN THIRD DIVISION
TITLE GAME: June, 25th Aquile vs Crusaders

Great Britain

The 2011 EFAF Cup kicks off on Saturday, July 2 as the London Blitz play and host in their first-ever EFAF Cup facing Serbia’s Kragujevac Wild Boars at Finsbury Park Athletics Stadium in North London.

Over the last few years, London Blitz have asserted themselves as one of the country’s top American Football teams. BritBowl finalist’s for the past five seasons, head coach Mark Moss has lifted the Boston Trophy for the Blitz in 2007, 2009 and 2010 with victories over rivals Coventry Jets.

The Blitz reached the EFAF Cup final with three impressive wins. The first game was an offensive shootout as the Blitz defeated the Amsterdam Crusaders. The defense came up big in the next two games as they shutout the Valencia Firebats going on to win 20-0 and held the Sollerod Gold Diggers to just one touchdown in the EFAF Cup semifinals 23-7 victory.

The Blitz will take on the Kragujevac Wild Boars, one of the most successful American football teams in Serbia.

The Wild Boars reached the finals by defeating the Hohenems Blue Devils 51-7 and beat France’s Thonon Black Panthers in the semi-finals. In the semi-final matchup, the Wild Boars came out strong building a dominating 28-6 halftime lead which proved to be too great for the Panthers to overcome despite outscoring the Wild Boars 16-7 in the fourth quarter.

This year’s EFAF Cup final proves to be an exciting one as both teams look to win their first-ever EFAF Cup trophy on Saturday, July 2 Finsbury Park Athletics Stadium in North London.

For more information about EFAF and the EFAF Cup competition visit www.efaf.info.

Spain / Sweden

Despite losing 36-14, Spain’s women’s national team international debut impressed all facing a much more experienced Swedish national team in Barcelona, Spain.

The young Spanish players, led by head coach Sergio Diaz, showed talent and desire, but ran into the Swedish national team that had more experienced players showing why they are ranked fifth overall in world.

Spain started the game strongly taking an early 6-0 lead in the first quarter as quarterback Monica Rafecas connected with receiver Gabi Quintana for a 18-yard touchdown.

But then the Swedes began to demonstrate their physical superiority, as Kirsten Sjösteen and Erika Hinders continually found and forced gaps for big gains and at the end of the first half, Sweden held a 20-6 lead.

Spain showed potential in the first half, with runs by Azucena Muñoz and short completions to Rafecas Monica Beatriz Herzog, Natalia Roca or Patricia Meixide. But in the second quarter, Spain’s strongest running back went down with an injury.

In the third quarter, Spain proved they would not give up as Raquel Díaz recovered a fumble and returned the ball 52 yards for a touchdown cutting the lead to 20-14. But Sweden quickly countered as Erika Handers scored a 50-yard touchdown increasing the lead to 26-14.

Sweden successfully went for two as Kristen Sjosten found the endzone to make the score 28-14 ending the third quarter.

Spain’s defense continued to put pressure on Sweden, as Jamie Quintana came up with an interception but Spain was unable to capitalize as Sweden came up with an interception of their own returning the ball for the final touchdown of the game to give Sweden a 36-14 win.

Austria

The SWARCO Raiders, Austrian sister team of The Oakland Raiders, regained the European crown. Despite heavy rain the Tyroleans defeated last year’s champion Berlin Adler 27-12 (10-0; 7-6; 7-0; 3-6) in Eurobowl XXV. Supported by a record crowd, the Oakland Raiderettes and Hall of Famer Willie Brown the SWARCO Raiders celebrated their third Eurobowl title in four seasons.

SWARCO Raiders head coach Shuan Fatah was very pleased after the game, “I’m so happy for my team. They have fought hard all year long and deserved this win. But we have to stay hungry. On Thursday we want to win the Austrian Bowl, too.”

On Thursday, June 23 the SWARCO Raiders face the Raiffeisen Vikings Vienna in the battle for the Austrian championship in Vienna’s Ernst-Happel stadium.

RB Florian Grein (top picture) gained 136 yards on 25 carries and a touchdown and was named Eurobowl MVP. It was Grein’s third MVP honor in his third Eurobowl game. QB Kyle Callahan completed 6 of 12 passes for 98 yards and rushed 9 times for 32 yards. WR Talib Wise caught 2 balls for 49 yards and had 4 rushes for 11 yards and a touchdown. WR Andreas Pröller caught 2 passes for 30 yards and scored on a fumble recovery. K Dennis Wiehberg kicked two field goals and scored a total of 17 points.

The SWARCO Raiders defense forced four turnovers. LB Christoph Schilcher recovered a fumble. S Markus Krause and S John Clements each caught an interception. DB Manuel Eisenführer forced a fumble and picked off a pass.

United States

Matt Bassuener has been all over the football map.

With a degree in international affairs from Georgetown University, Bassuener already has seen his passport stamped in Mexico and Finland during his football career. In July, as part of the U.S. Men’s National Team, Bassuener will travel to Austria with Team USA for the IFAF Senior World Championship.

It’s an experience he couldn’t pass up.

“Being part of this team is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Bassuener said. “Everything about this team falls right in my wheelhouse. To have this come together with both things I love is amazing.”

Bassuener was a two-year starter for the Hoyas, throwing for 3,223 yards and 23 touchdowns while running for 620 yards and four TDs. He completed 355-of-525 attempts (67.6 percent) to earn All-Patriot League honors.

Now with the Tulsa Talons of the Arena Football League, the Port Edwards, Wisc., native started his college career at Tech de Monterey in Mexico. He played two seasons in Finland, one during a high school exchange program and another after graduating college. He also is scheduled to play this winter in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Ireland

IAFOA referee, Michael Smith (pictured with white cap), was appointed to the officiating crew for the EuroBowl Final. EuroBowl XXV took place in Innsbruck, Austria on June 18th 2011 as the SWARCO Raiders defeated the Berlin Adler.

Michael Smith is one of three Irish officials who are on the European Federation list for International club and national team competitions. He has officiated in several high profile European ties in recent years. In Ireland, he officiates in the IAFL most weekends and has refereed several Shamrock Bowl finals. As with the Superbowl in the US, the neutral officials appointed to the EuroBowl earn the honour due to outstanding performances in previous European ties. Mr. Smith is the third IAFOA official to officate in the EuroBowl final, following in the footsteps of Steve Stacher (1980s) and Veikko Laminsalo (2002).

More about IAFL visit [URL]http://www.americanfootball.ie/

Spain

The L’Hospitalet Pioneers were crowned the Spain National Football League champions defeating the Barcelona Dracs 24-8 for their fourth league title.

American wide receiver John Sheffield was named game MVP. The game was played in front of nearly 1,000 fans at the Joan Serrahima Stadium in Barcelona, Spain.

United Kingdom

For the first time in the five years of the NFL Broadcast Boot Camp, the event directors will select a top performer to serve as a studio analyst for a 2011 NFL regular-season Sunday on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom.

“We are very pleased to be able to offer this opportunity to a member of the NFL Broadcast Boot Camp,” said Sky Sports NFL producer

KARL BAUMANN. “It is a chance for us to introduce a new analyst to our U.K. audience and to benefit from their insight and expertise. We have been lucky to work with some outstanding NFL broadcasters and experts over the years and we are excited to see who will be joining us later this season.”

Sky Sports is the premier NFL broadcaster in the U.K. and airs 1:00 PM ET and 4:15 PM ET games live every Sunday as well as all Thursday and Saturday night games and all postseason games including the Super Bowl. Based in London, Sky Sports has been televising NFL games for more than two decades. Among notable NFL guest analysts on Sky in recent years were Mike Holmgren, Jerry Rice and Lynn Swann. In addition, FOX Sports’ Troy Aikman and Daryl Johnston served as analysts on Sky’s coverage of NFL Europe games.

Of the 90 players who took part in the Broadcast Boot Camp from 2007-2010, 36 have already earned broadcasting jobs as a result of their participation in the program.

Poland

PLFA I regular season comes to an end with Seahawks joining the playoff dance at the expense of the relegated Lowlanders, Crew cap unbeaten season, Miners send Steelers into the barrage, and Eagles and Devils win in postseason tune-ups

Seahawks in playoffs, Lowlanders relegated after 68-0 massacre

With the Gdynia Seahawks finding their stride in the second half of the season and the Białystok Lowlanders limping into the final game, the home fans had reason to be optimistic that their Seahawks would secure the fourth playoff spot on Saturday in Gdynia. They ended up doing so with ease, after Luke Zetazate’s record 8th touchdown pass completed the scoring at 68-0.

Wrocław Crew finish off perfect season with 29-6 defeat of Kozły

In 2008 Kozły Poznań scored one of the biggest upsets in PLFA history, beating the Wrocław Crew 8-6. They were not able to duplicate the feat on Sunday afternoon in Wrocław, however, falling 29-6 against a much different Crew. In fact, it is a team that now can be called perfect, after finishing the season with nine wins against exactly zero defeats.

Miners take Śląsk derby 27-0 to stay up next year, Steelers in barrage

After seven games of the 2011 season went by without a victory, Miner Nation would have been forgiven for thinking they might be supporting a PLFA II team in 2012. Their beloved Silesia Miners rallied, however, winning the last two games of the season, including a 27-0 home shutout over the Zagłębie Steelers on the season’s final day, to keep their place in the top division safe for another year.

Eagles provide fireworks on and off the field in 68-6 win over Owls

The Warsaw Eagles look to be the main threat to the recent dominance of the two Wrocław teams as the 2011 season heads for its playoff phase. The Eagles sent a message to those squads in their final game of the regular season on Saturday evening, handing the Bielawa Owls their worst loss of the year, a 68-6 shelling. Bielawa had not given up more than 42 points in a game this season.

Devils shut out Tigers 44-0, will start playoffs at home against Eagles

The Wrocław Devils rolled into the playoffs on Saturday afternoon, winning at home over the Dom-Bud Krakow Tigers by a score of 44-0. The Devils were able to rest many of their starters for their semifinal game against the Warsaw Eagles after scoring 29 points in the second quarter.